Health & Medicine
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Health & MedicineEasygoing, social people may get dementia less often
Don’t worry, be happy: People who are largely unstressed by mundane events seem less likely to develop dementia in old age than people who sweat the small stuff.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineEpigenetics reveals unexpected, and some identical, results
One study finds tissue-specific methylation signatures in the genome; another a similarity between identical twins in DNA’s chemical tagging.
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Health & MedicineNeural paths for borderline personality disorder
A new brain-imaging study indicates that unusual neural activity linked to emotion, attention and conflict-resolution systems underlies a common psychiatric condition known as borderline personality disorder.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & MedicineUsing checklist reduces surgery complications
Measure twice, cut once: Going over a checklist of procedures in the operating room before and after surgery lowers the complication rate and, in developing countries, saves lives, a study in eight hospitals shows.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineOmega-3 fatty acid is early boost for female preemies
DHA given to newborns in the first weeks following birth improves brain development in girls, but not boys.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineGoing nano to see viruses 3-D
Nanoscale MRI-like machine images individual virus shapes; first step to seeing proteins in 3-D
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ArchaeologyArmenian cave yields ancient human brain
A team of scientists has excavated 6,000-year-old artifacts and three human skulls, including one containing a preserved brain, from a cave bordering Armenia’s Arpa River.
By Bruce Bower -
Health & MedicineSirtuin shown to control gene activity
A previously overlooked protein called SIRT6 provides some molecular clues to aging.
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Health & MedicineRecord low for human blood oxygen levels
Study of Mt. Everest climbers shows some bodies can tolerate low oxygen levels that are toxic to others.
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Health & MedicineEarly C-sections pose risks
Babies delivered by elective cesarean section just a week or two before 39 weeks of gestation face increased risk of respiratory and other complications.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineParkinson’s brain surgery works in older patients, too
A surgery in which two tiny electrodes are placed in the brain improves the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease, including older patients, and seems to have only short-term side effects.
By Nathan Seppa -
Health & MedicineBone-growth drugs may increase jaw disease risk
New study finds link between common drug and jawbone death.